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Labour's Meka Whaitiri says Maori land law reform will loom large in her campaign to retain Ikaroa Rawhiti.

Ms Whaitiri was confirmed at the weekend as the party's candidate for the seat, where she must counter the high profile built up by Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox over the past three years.

She says the Maori Party's signature Te Ture Whenua Maori reform could be its weakest point.

With a third of Maori freehold land being in the electorate, it has been a topic of conversation with individual landowners, large incorporations, land court staff, and others involved with developing and managing the whenua.

"Absolutely right down to Maori Land Court judges, the Waitangi Tribunal the Human Rights Commission, the Law Society, people could see that we need amendments but no one can see the justification for the complete rewrite," Ms Whaitiri says.